Loss Is Indeed Our Gain

Loss Is Indeed Our Gain 

The pushing and shoving of the world is endless.

            We are pushed and shoved.

            And we do our fair share of pushing and shoving

                        In our great anxiety.

            And in the middle of that

                        You have set down your beloved suffering son

                        Who was like a sheep led to slaughter

                        Who opened not his mouth.

            We seem not able,

            So we ask you to create the spaces in our life

            Where we may ponder his suffering

            And your summons for us to suffer with him,

            Suspecting that suffering is the only way to come to newness.

So we pray for your church in these Lenten days,

            When we are driven to denial –

                        Not to notice the suffering,

                        Not to engage it,

                        Not to acknowledge it.

So be that way of truth among us

            That we should not deceive ourselves.

That we shall see that loss is indeed our gain.

We give you thanks for that mystery from which we live.

Amen.

– Walter Brueggemann in Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth